when i first started with netflix the 3 at a time plan with bluray was $17.99

it was a great deal with the dvds and streaming

at some point they increased the costs for bluray a bit so instead of the $1 extra the additional cost was based on your plan (for the 3 at once plan it was $4) i accepted this thinking it would potentially mean they would start stocking more copies of blurays and it was still cheaper and there was the matter of older titles that netflix would get on bluray but local video stores would not

then there were the delays for new releases... this annoyed me but i figured i could deal with it

recently netflix seems to have quit getting older films on bluray... now they've always been a bit slow on getting some b-movie crap but i'm talking well known films like The Exorcist

and then today i received the email that is the final straw... starting January 2nd they will be increasing their prices again... in fact the new prices are already in effect for new members

i will be cancelling my netflix account before this new increase takes effect for me

for those wanting netflix to introduce a streaming only service



once again they **** over the DVDs by mail side of their service for the benefit of low bitrate streaming video

I have the $8.99/mo 1-dvd plan with unlimited streaming...and I keep forgetting to watch the DVD that I've had for weeks. Streaming FTW, though it really sucks that they only have stereo sound. I'd rather see everything in DVD quality with 5.1 surround than 'HD' with stereo.

EXTRA $12 A YEAR OMFG I AM GOING TO BE BROKE oh wait I spend that at Wahoo's Fish Tacos in one sitting

Eh, this is going to be awesome for me because I never get around to watching the DVDs. Hopefully this means more and more streaming, though. I don't know if I'm going to switch right away, just because a lot of older art-*** movies are never streaming.

Haha, you watch Bluray.

Meh, complaints about a great service expanding their offers and [necessarily] raising their prices (exactly as I accurately predicted within the past few months or so).

great service? they used to be a great service but they keep ****ing up the main part of their service

and steven it's more than $12 a year extra but the point is it's gotten to the point where it's just cheaper to rent from the local video store

Do the blockbuster total access then, same price for 3 disc package, but they don't charge extra for blu ray and they include video game rentals and according to their new commercials, you get everything 28 days earlier. No streaming but you dont want that anyway Soooo..

Yep. That's what I did, at least until blockbuster goes belly up.

Their end game strategy is totally to switch to streaming only. People have been calling this for years. They built an empire with dvd-by-mail, got people hooked on their (admittedly, awesome) service, and now that they have the brand recognition they're trying to move toward streaming-only because it cuts out a ton (postage, labor, the factory-lines where they unload/prep/load the dvd, etc) of their costs.

8 dollars a month for infinite streaming is okay with me.

If their entire library was available streaming, I'd happily pay my current rate...but unfortunately the selection is quite limited. I couldn't even watch all of Doctor Who online..I had to get a disc for the first episode of season 4!

Yeah this would be completely fine with me, as long as they were offering everything streamable in a timely fashion.

Speaking of Netflix, The Expendables should be arriving on Bluray tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing that.

I'd pay double or even triple if they had everything streaming in HD. Yes, bluray looks/sounds better, but not "better enough" if I can get HD streaming. The price increases are pretty lame, but it's not enough for me to even be annoyed. They provide an outstanding service that my whole family uses and it's well worth the cost.

I rented a dvd through a red box the other day. It was really easy/fast (although the selection sucked), and cheap. But the next day I was annoyed when I had to get in the car and go return it before 9:00 pm. Ugh.

I have the 1 Blu-ray/DVD at-a-time w/ unlimited streaming plan which is $11.99 (soon to be $12.99). I think it's a great service & value & would happily pay more for it (luckily I don't have to). I can ALWAYS find something to stream in-between the Blu-rays/DVDs. I enjoy getting Blu-rays/DVDs when it comes to something where visuals really count (e.g: Avatar) but if every movie was available for streaming I'd get the streaming-only plan. I think that people tend to overlook the fact that streaming availability is often restricted by copyright/legal issues & it's not just Netflix being lazy or trying to ass-rape you.

It'd be nice if the film industry could get their **** together. I'd pay about 25 a month if I could get all of the movies I want streaming. I wish the music industry would get on the à la carte wagon. I haven't bought music that wasn't limited edition or collectible in 5+ years, but I've actually spent money on movies and tv shows.

Mentat, I want to congratulate you. Not only have you made a post that I completely agree with but one that I actually could have written. I almost posted virtually the exact same thing but was too lazy (something that working two jobs while in the midst of substantial home improvement projects will do).

I will add, though, that I have found some bluray rentals to be frustrating. The very nature of bluray means that scratches that might be inconsequential to a DVD render the rental useless. Also, I prefer to rent some movies on DVD because I don't yet have a bluray drive in the PC.

Wow, you would really pay $25 a month to get all the movies you want streaming? Can't see why the film industry, or video distribution industry for that matter, wouldn't be all over that deal.

I don't have cable TV because they outpriced me on that. So maybe they don't want my money, but I think piracy has a few words to say about that. 25>0.

Let's enjoy the kumbaya moment while we have it because it's unlikely to happen again.


I cancelled my cable awhile back also. The price was outrageous & I find that Hulu & Netflix provide me w/ everything that I could possible want. I don't mind waiting an extra day to see something.

We cancelled our cable a couple of years ago and I really don't miss it. I hope netflix expands their streaming service to include more newer shows/movies. I subscribe to their "new streaming" feed and for the past few months it's been nothing but really old b&w movies, westerns, etc. Bleck.

I would be totally open to canceling my cable if it wasn't the best way to access high speed internet in my city.

I still have cable internet, but I don't have cable TV.

in our area, you have to have the "lifeline cable" tv to get internet. go time warner.

Yeah, I'd be paying for basic cable no matter what and the TV part of the bill isn't what's expensive.

Correct me if I'm wrong- but I'm under the impression that Netflix, as often as not, has nothing to do with the decision not to allow certain movies to be available streamed, or via rental on bluray. Isn't it the movie companies themselves that often place these restrictions?

This.

Netflix actually agreed to the launch movies a month after they came to DVD because a lot of movie companies OK'd them to use their entire back catalog.

I'd rather have an expansive collection than a super immediate one.

(That being said, I'm not sure how much of this has gone into effect yet. But I think we can all agree that Netflix wants as much as it can have on Instant as soon as it can... it probably isn't Netflix standing in the way.)

I used to think that basic cable was a requirement until I spoke w/ a manager at my cable company & he told me otherwise. I now only pay for cable Internet service. I do pick up 1 local channel via my antenna which is suitable for emergencies. I've been thinking about purchasing an HD antenna because there are quite a few channels available in HD over the air in my area. It's true that basic cable isn't their most expensive service but in my area it's more than the price of a Netflix account & that adds up over time.